Lok Sabha elections 2019- ‘Honest heart, clear intentions’: BJP’s East Delhi pick Gautam Gambhir files poll papers

On Monday, the BJP had announced that Gambhir would contest the ongoing Lok Sabha polls from East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. Gambhir is pitted against Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely and Atishi of AAP from the seat.

Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir held a roadshow in Delhi on Tuesday before filling his nomination papers as the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from East Delhi, replacing sitting MP Maheish Girri

Former cricketer and BJP candidate from East Delhi Gautam Gambhir during a roadshow to file his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections, in New Delhi. (PTIv Photo)

“I really want to contribute something to the country and whatever our Prime Minister has done in the last five years. I want to take that legacy forward. I will try to work as much as I can with an honest heart and clear intentions,” Gambhir told ANI.

On Monday, the BJP had announced that Gambhir would contest the ongoing Lok Sabha polls from East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. Gambhir is pitted against Congress’ Arvinder Singh Lovely and Atishi of AAP from the seat.

A Padma Shri awardee, Gambhir joined the BJP in March. While joining the party, the former cricketer Gautam Gambhir had said that he was ‘impressed by prime minister Narendra Modi’s vision’.

“I am impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision... I have contributed to the field of cricket and now hope to do more for the country,” the 37-year-old cricketer had said.

Delhi, which has seven Lok Sabha constituencies, will go to polls on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

The BJP also re-nominated sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi from the New Delhi seat. She will lock horns with Congress’ Ajay Maken and Brajesh Goel of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Harsh Vardhan has been re-nominated from Chandni Chowk while Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari will again contest from North East Delhi. Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, has been given ticket from West Delhi while Ramesh Bidhuri has been chosen from South Delhi.